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Remembering Peter Lindbergh & Robert Frank

September 11, 2019(updated September 12, 2019)
By Ryley Smith

As many people in the photo community already know, it is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to two of the most influential photographers of our time, Peter Lindbergh and Robert Frank. Our condolences to the friends and family of these remarkable photographers. If you have not heard the news, or are not really sure who these photographers are, let me quickly enlighten you.

Peter Lindbergh – November 23, 1944 – September 3, 2019

Peter Lindbergh was born in Lenzo, Poland but spent his childhood growing up in Duisburg, Germany, where early sparks of his creative mind began to ignite. Such inspiration lead him to travel Spain and Africa, before moving back to Düsseldorf, Germany where he would kick-start his photography career. With fire still in his soul, Peter moved to Paris, launching his career by working for Vogue and becoming a renowned fashion photographer. Redefining the outlook on photographing women and models, Peter looked beyond the model and captured the soul of the woman being photographed, ultimately changing the standard of beauty with his timeless images. He ultimately became an icon, photographing for magazines such as Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and directing critically acclaimed films and documentaries such as Inner Voices which won the Best Documentary Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). His work can be found in museums around the world and he has numerous books. Works such as Women can be found at TCS Books, which highlights the juxtaposing beauty of a fashion shoot against New York City. Although the soul of Peter Lindberg will be forever missed, the beauty and standard of fashion photography that Peter Lindbergh created will never be forgotten.

Robert Frank – November 9, 1924 – September 9, 2019

Robert Frank was originally born in Zürich, Switzerland, where he worked as a commercial photographer and graphic designer, but due to a lack of artistic opportunity, he emigrated to New York to pursue bigger dreams. It was in New York that he was hired to work at Harper’s Bazaar for fashion photography. Once again, feeling that his creativity was being confined, he transitioned into freelance photography and photojournalism, where he established himself by producing photography for magazines such as LIFE and Vogue. His independent work helped Robert to gain recognition within the art community in New York, ultimately allowing him to meet Walker Evans, who would later help direct him to an application for the Guggenheim Fellowship, catapulting his career. It was this fellowship that gave Robert the opportunity to travel the country and create his legendary book, The Americans, his depiction of the American life. This book not only reexamined the day-to-day life of Americans, often exposing the dark shadows behind the white picket fence, it also redefined photography and pushed the limits on visual storytelling. It was this that not only titled Robert as one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, but made his style of photography a benchmark for future generations. The gorgeous expression of American life and raw talent, The Americas, can be found at TCS Books, along with a small collection of Robert Frank’s more rare books including Hold Still, Keep Going,The Lines of my Hands, Household Inventory Record, and the exceptionally rare Valencia 1952 which you can find in-store. As heartbreaking it is to have lost such a talented and influential photographer, we can go on knowing that Robert Frank’s legend will live on.

Featured in this Article:

Peter Lindbergh, Garry Winogrand: Women

Robert Frank: The Americans

Robert Frank: Hold Still, Keep Going

Robert Frank: The Lines of My Hand

Robert Frank: Household Inventory Record

Ryley Smith

Ryley graduated in 2018 from the U of C, with a bachelor in Sociology. With a strong love for writing, and having dabbled in photography, she wanted to take her curious mind and put it towards a more fun and creative future. In her spare time, Ryley finds herself camping, skiing, and fishing. She also loves craft beer and interesting food, ideally together.